TheMusandam Peninsula (Arabic:جَزِيْرَة مُسَنْدَم \ رَأْس مُسَنْدَم,romanized: Jazīrat Musandam / Raʾs Musandam), locally known asRuus Al Jibal (Arabic:رُؤُوْس ٱلْجِبَال,romanized: Ruʾūs al-Jibāl Capes of the Mountains),^[3] is apeninsula that forms the northeastern point of theArabian Peninsula.

Musandam Peninsula[1][2] جَزِيْرَة مُسَنْدَم رَأْس مُسَنْدَم
The peninsula as seen from space. Al-Khasab to the north (top) shown in green, is contrasted between the more subtle rainbow tones of the surrounding rock in this false-colour image. The termKhasab refers to the fertility of the soil.
Coordinates:25°54′N56°12′E / 25.900°N 56.200°E /25.900; 56.200
Governorates of Oman andEmirates of the United Arab Emirates	Musandam Governorate (Oman) Ras Al Khaimah (UAE)

The peninsula lies to the south of theStrait of Hormuz, between thePersian Gulf and theGulf of Oman.^[4] It is inhabited by theShihuh tribe and is mainly governed byOman as theMusandam Governorate with certain parts governed by theUnited Arab Emirates, includingRas Al Khaimah and parts ofDibba.^[1][2]

Land features include theWestern Hajar Mountains. Since these are the northernmost of theHajar range, they and the peninsula are referred to asRuʾūs al-Jibāl (Arabic:رُؤُوْس ٱلْجِبَال,romanized: Capes of the Mountains).^[1][2] The largestwadi in Mussandam isWadi Bih, which forms the centraldrainage basin.^[5][6] The highest Mountain in Mussandam, and Ru'us al Jibal, isJebel Harim.

During winter, the region can be fairly cool, particularly the mountains of Jais, Yanas and Mebrah.^[7][8]

Fauna include theRuus al Jibal fan-footed gecko,^[9]Arabian tahr andcaracal. It is unknown if theArabian leopard is still present.^[1][2]

The mountainous northern end of the peninsula has been designated anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International because it supports significant populations of bird species, whether resident, breeding, wintering or on passage. These includepallid scops-owl,plain leaf-warbler,hooded,variable,Hume's andred-tailed wheatears, andpale rockfinch.^[10]

The islands scattered around the tip of the peninsula are in a separate IBA because of their importance forseabirds, includingred-billed tropicbird,Persian shearwater,Socotra cormorant andbridled tern.^[11]

In the past, the region was an unstable region, and was repeatedly invaded by Persian empires such as theAchaemenid Empire and theSassanian Empire. Then these empires declined until the Islamic era arrived.

In the modern era, the occupation of the region continued. In the beginning, thePortuguese invasion arrived, which destroyed the region after it was a global navigation center at that time. Then a new force appeared, theYa'rubids state, and expelled the Portuguese invasion of the Gulf and occupied the peninsula region. Then cameBritish colonialism. After the withdrawal of British colonialism, theUAE was formed, butRas Al Khaimah did not join the UAE at that time. In 1972 AD, the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah joined the United Arab Emirates. Then the Emirati-Omani border has been officially settled.

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  View ofJebal Harim from the Green Valley, March 2013
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  View of the mountains of Musandam, December 1971
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  View of theRu'us al-Jibal fromJebel Qihwi
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  The mountainous area ofKumzar,c. 1908
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  Sedimentary rock layers nearKhasab inMusandam Governorate, Oman
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  Jabal ar Raḩraḩ (1,676 m), theUAE's highest mountain, nearRas Al Khaimah
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  African monarch butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) in Zhighy Bay, Musandam Governorate
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  Blue basker dragonfly (Urothemis edwardsii)
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  Rock semaphore gecko (Pristurus rupestris)

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